Drive wheel

Abstract

A drive wheel for centerless drive of an annular saw blade of a cutting machine. The drive wheel includes a drive ring having concentrically arranged first and second annular elements, each of which has a first beveled side surface located radially outward from a second beveled side surface. The second beveled side surfaces are in contact with one another and the first beveled side surfaces together define a wedge-shaped drive groove for the inner edge of an annular saw blade that is to be driven by the drive ring. Third and fourth annular elements are arranged concentrically with, and outboard to the first and second annular elements located therebetween. The third and fourth annular elements are configured to inwardly compress upon the first and second annular elements. An anti-relative-rotation member interconnects the first and second annular elements to prevent relative rotation therebetween while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.

1 . A drive wheel for centerless drive of an annular saw blade of a cutting machine, said drive wheel comprising: 
 a drive ring comprising concentrically arranged first and second annular elements, each of said annular elements having a first beveled side surface located radially outward from a second beveled side surface, said second beveled side surfaces being in contact with one another and said first beveled side surfaces together defining a wedge-shaped drive groove for the inner edge of an annular saw blade to be driven by said drive ring;    third and fourth annular elements arranged concentrically with, and outboard to said first and second annular elements located therebetween, and said third and fourth annular elements being configured to inwardly compress upon said first and second annular elements; and    an anti-relative-rotation member interconnecting said first and second annular elements thereby preventing relative rotation between said first and second annular elements while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.    
     
     
         2 . A drive wheel for centerless drive of an annular saw blade of a cutting machine, said drive wheel comprising: 
 a drive ring comprising concentrically arranged first and second annular elements, each of said annular elements having a first beveled side surface located radially outward from a second beveled side surface, said second beveled side surfaces being in contact with one another and said first beveled side surfaces together defining a wedge-shaped drive groove for the inner edge of an annular saw blade to be driven by said drive ring;    third and fourth annular elements arranged concentrically with, and outboard to said first and second annular elements located therebetween, and said third and fourth annular elements being configured to inwardly compress upon said first and second annular elements; and    an anti-relative-rotation means for preventing relative rotation between said first and second annular elements while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.    
     
     
         3 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means for preventing relative rotation between said first and second annular elements is an anti-relative-rotation member interconnecting said first and second annular elements while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.  
     
     
         4 . A drive wheel for centerless drive of an annular saw blade of a cutting machine, said drive wheel comprising: 
 a drive ring comprising concentrically arranged first and second annular elements, each of said annular elements having a first beveled side surface located radially outward from a second beveled side surface, said second beveled side surfaces being in contact with one another and said first beveled side surfaces together defining a wedge-shaped drive groove for the inner edge of an annular saw blade to be driven by said drive ring; and    third and fourth annular elements arranged concentrically with, and outboard to said first and second annular elements located therebetween, and said third and fourth annular elements being configured to inwardly compress upon said first and second annular elements.    
     
     
         5 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an anti-relative-rotation member interconnecting said first and second annular elements thereby preventing relative rotation between said first and second annular elements while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.    
     
     
         6 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an anti-relative-rotation means for preventing relative rotation between said first and second annular elements while driving the annular saw blade of a cutting machine.    
     
     
         7 . The drive wheel as recited in any one of claims  2  and  6 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means is an adhesive interconnecting said first and second annular elements.  
     
     
         8 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said adhesive interconnecting said first and second annular elements is soldering.  
     
     
         9 . The drive wheel as recited in any one of claims  2  and  6 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means is an interference fit between said first and second annular elements.  
     
     
         10 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said interference fit between said first and second annular elements comprises a peg-and-hole coupling wherein a hole of said coupling is positioned in said first annular element and a peg of said coupling is positioned on said second annular element, said peg tightly fitting within said hole.  
     
     
         11 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said interference fit between said first and second annular elements comprises a tongue-in-groove coupling wherein an annular groove of said coupling is recessed into one of said second beveled side surfaces and an annular tongue of said coupling projects outwardly from the other of said second beveled side surfaces, said annular tongue being configured to fit tightly within said annular groove.  
     
     
         12 . The drive wheel as recited in any one of claims  1 - 4 , wherein said second beveled side surfaces are planar and radially oriented within said drive wheel.  
     
     
         13 . A drive wheel that rotates about a center of rotation for centerless drive of an annular saw blade in a cutting machine and which has two first, annular, beveled surfaces that define between themselves a wedge-shaped drive-groove for the inner edge of the saw blade, said drive wheel comprising: 
 a drive ring comprising a first and a second annular element, said first and second annular elements being concentric to each other and each having a first annular beveled surface and a second annular surface inside of said first beveled surface with reference to the radial direction and said second beveled surfaces being in snug contact with each other;    said first annular beveled surfaces defining between themselves the wedge-shaped drive-groove and being respectively positionable on a side of the inner edge of a saw blade for frictional contact therewith; and    a third and a fourth annular element, said third and fourth annular elements being concentric with the first and second annular elements and placed on each side of paired first and second annular elements for compression thereupon in the axial direction.    
     
     
         14 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said second annular surfaces are flat.  
     
     
         15 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said second beveled side surfaces are planar and radially oriented within said drive wheel.  
     
     
         16 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first beveled surfaces are coated with a wear resistant material.  
     
     
         17 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said wear resistant material is one of a carbide compound and a nitride compound.  
     
     
         18 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said wear resistant material is one of titanium carbide and titanium nitride.  
     
     
         19 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a third annular surface on each of said first and second annular elements radially positioned between respective first and second annular surfaces, said third annular surfaces defining a narrow recess therebetween that extends in a radial direction inward into the drive wheel.    
     
     
         20 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said narrow recess has substantially flat sidewalls and has a depth between one-half and one and one-half times a depth of the wedge-shaped drive-groove.  
     
     
         21 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an anti-relative-rotation means for preventing any rotation of said first, second, third, and fourth annular elements relative to each other about the center of rotation of the drive wheel.    
     
     
         22 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means comprises a member that extends in the axial direction through a recess in said first and second annular elements at a location radially inward of the wedge-shaped drive-groove.  
     
     
         23 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means comprises a member that extends in the axial direction through apertures in said first and second annular elements at a location radially inward of the wedge-shaped drive-groove.  
     
     
         24 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation member further extends in the axial direction through apertures in said third and fourth annular elements at a location radially inward of the wedge-shaped drive-groove.  
     
     
         25 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation member is one of a solid pin and hollow tubing.  
     
     
         26 . The drive wheel as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said anti-relative-rotation means is one of non-round form locks, splines, and wedge locks.